Description
// Gold Winner at Decanter World Wine Awards
"The 2019 Ponting '366' is an interregional blend of two great vineyards; Ben’s own Piebald Gully Vineyard in McLaren Vale and Weatherall Vineyards in Coonawarrra. Piebald Gully is situated in the coolest sub-region of McLaren Vale, Clarendon, bordering the Adelaide Hills. Planted in deep sand over clay, the vineyard is late ripening and virtually dry grown, producing an elegant and refined style of Shiraz. The Weatherall Vineyards site is located in the northern end of the region and is traditionally some of the earlier ripening blocks with low yields and excellent concentration. Generally, this area is flat: its maximum elevation just 58 meters above sea level. The variation, however, lies in the different soil depths ranging from red-brown clay loam to brown sand loam, all over limestone, producing some of Australia’s best Cabernet Sauvignon. Components of the 2018 Ponting '366' were fermented in traditional open fermenters, and following pressing, finished their fermentation in oak; approximately 80% was French and the balance American, 35% of which was new oak. Vineyard parcels were kept separate during fermentation and maturation and were blended three months prior to bottling. With a full two years in barrel the wine was then bottle aged and released when near its prime. The wine is fine, elegant, stylish and structured akin to what was once known as claret." - Winemaker Notes
"Good depth of colour with a trace of purple lingering; there are black fruit, sump-oil and soy sauce aromas, the palate full bodied and savoury with lashings of supple powdery tannins. A big wine but also a softie, with abundant fleshiness and it's starting to show some maturity in its flavours. Some alcohol warmth, but acceptable. It has concentration, drive, length and richness." - 96 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
